On July 15, China's Tianzhou-9 cargo spacecraft was successfully launched with over six tonnes of supplies, setting a new record for payload capacity among Chinese cargo missions.

Catapulted on a Long March-7 Y10 carrier rocket from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in southern China, it docked with the rear port of the Tianhe core module of the Chinese space station later, marking another milestone in China's rapidly advancing space logistics system.

Tianzhou-9 is the fourth cargo spacecraft produced in batches during the application and development phase of China's space station. It carries essential supplies for Shenzhou-20 and the upcoming Shenzhou-21 crewed missions and is now part of the orbital assembly where astronauts will soon begin transferring cargo for long-term operations.

Record-breaking scale cargo mission

The supplies include consumables for astronauts, propellants and an array of scientific equipment. Among the most notable items are two upgraded extravehicular activity suits, which have extended operational lifespans — up from the previous "three years/15 missions" to "four years/20 missions." This improvement significantly boosts the sustainability of spacewalk operations.

In terms of daily life, the menu onboard just got a lot more exciting. The mission introduced nearly 30 new space food items, increasing the total to over 190 varieties. This culinary upgrade extends astronauts' meal cycle from seven days to 10, providing better nutrition.

Equally significant is the delivery of a core muscle training device designed for in-orbit use. This cutting-edge equipment will assist astronauts in maintaining physical fitness in microgravity conditions.

The spacecraft also transported 776.5 kilograms of scientific payloads for 23 experiments, according to experts at the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Advanced autonomous docking

Tianzhou-9 successfully performed a fully autonomous three-hour rendezvous and docking, now the new standard for China's cargo missions. This method, developed by the China Academy of Space Technology, offers a balance between speed and operational flexibility.

While faster than the previous 6.5-hour method, it is less demanding than the ultra-fast two-hour approach in terms of rocket orbit accuracy, sensor performance and control precision, enhancing task reliability.

This mission presented two new challenges for the three-hour docking mode: conducting the maneuver at a new orbital altitude and under specific solar angle conditions. To address these, the engineering team conducted extensive simulations and data analysis, demonstrating the system's robust reliability under complex orbital mechanics and lighting conditions.

Future of space logistics

As one of the most capable cargo spacecrafts in service globally, the Tianzhou's main tasks include transporting cargo and replenishing propellant for the space station, supporting the station's attitude and orbit control, conducting space science experiments, and returning space station waste to the atmosphere for incineration. On this mission, the Tianzhou-9 also carried two experimental payloads to carry out on-orbit tests of new space technologies, improving the overall effectiveness of the mission.

All development work for Tianzhou-9 was completed before the launch of Tianzhou-8, putting the spacecraft on standby and enabling a three-month emergency launch capability for the first time. The backup spacecraft for the next mission was also placed on standby, greatly enhancing the flexibility and security of China's space station operations.

Looking ahead, China's space logistics capabilities will expand. Two new cargo vehicles — the Qingzhou spacecraft and the Haolong space shuttle — are preparing for test flights. These newcomers will enrich the logistics system, enabling more agile, cost-effective and diversified cargo delivery solutions.

As China's orbital ambitions grow, so does the sophistication of its space delivery fleet, turning the once-distant dream of routine space logistics into high-efficiency reality.